Thavius Beck

Alex's Bar

Thavius Beck is the 2009 man that 1989 hip-hop knew was coming one dayall sampled gunshots, over-cranked bass hits and a post-Bomb Squad sense of dread that didnt find an analogue until Hypnotize Minds sludged forth from Memphis. While Beck is mostly known for his production (notably and recently on Saul Williams Niggy Tardust) hes also a formidable rapper (as spotted with Subtitle in the avant Lab Waste) and his imminent solo release, Dialogue (Mush Records), finds him in fiery form. There are three tracks in the dead center that give the album cannonball heftthe kind of thing you hear coming a long way off before it suddenly plunks down on your head.
Sun., June 28, 6 p.m., 2009